As legislation continues to move swiftly through the Florida Legislature to allow increased governmental use of drones, Florida’s fire chiefs are seeking to get on board.
On Tuesday the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee took up, and swiftly approved, HB 659, which would allow use of drones by Florida wildlife and forestry officials for two purposes: to monitor invasive species encroachment on public lands, and to help manage and fight wildfires. - PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FloridaPolitics.com
Chris Owens turned the key but the engine in the fire truck would not start. It wasn't the first time. The Town Creek Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department's equipment has fallen into disrepair as the department faces significant financial challenges.
"We'll jump that truck first," said Owens looking at the pumper truck which still bore the Sipsey name from it's former home. - PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBMA-TV ABC 33/40 Birmingham
VIDEO: Remember the good ‘ol days when kids collected and traded baseball cards?
A few folks at the Amarillo Fire Department remember those days too. But they’re version of trading cards features their fire engines and trucks.
These cards are helping highlight our local heroes and connecting them with our local kids. - PUB DATE: 1/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KAMR-TV NBC 4 Amarillo
Two Jacksonville firefighters stabbed by a patient in their ambulance are back on the duty and speaking about the ordeal for the first time.
Three and a half months after a violent attack, Capt. Latorrence Norris and Engineer Vincent Harper said they were dangerously close to losing their lives at the hands of someone they were trying to help. - PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJXT-TV 4 Jacksonville
More than a handful of firefighters shared personal, powerful stories about the challenges they've faced while diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Their families and mental health experts joined them in asking Nebraska state senators to champion first responders and a new bill, which they say will help them better serve communities by providing guarantees and options for mental health treatment. - PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KETV-TV ABC 7 Omaha
VIDEO: Operators at 911 centers across southern Arizona are screening calls for possible cases of coronavirus.
The Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed the state’s first case of the illness on Sunday, Jan. 26. The following day, experts offered resources and guidelines from NHTSA Office of EMS for first responders to limit their exposure to coronavirus. - PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOLD-TV CBS 13 Tucson
This Wednesday, Jan. 29, KRDO will once again team up with Shield 616 for an all day telethon. This time, it's to buy rifle-rated vests for Colorado Springs firefighters.
KRDO has been working hand in hand with Shield 616 for years. Tonight, we're looking back at what the non-profit stands for, where it came from and what's next. - PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KRDO-TV ABC 13 Colorado Springs
Pelham author Jeanne LaSala-Taylor has written a just-released children’s book, “Just Bunny and the Great Fire Rescue.” Based on a true story of her daughter’s stuffed bunny being rescued from a burning building, this book provides a special thanks to firefighters everywhere for saving lives – and stuffed bunnies, too. - PUB DATE: 1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Yonkers Times
VIDEOS/PHOTOS: A fire chief in Scottsboro, Alabama has confirmed fatalities in a massive fire that consumed at least 35 boats docked along the Tennessee River early Monday morning.
Witness Carol Fuller took video of the boat dock as it was engulfed in flames. She tells us she could hear people cry, but was frustrated that there was no way to rescue them. - PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVC-TV ABC/FOX 9
The union representing full-time Yonkers firefighters is accusing the city of cutting future benefit payments for some fire officials who may retire after becoming permanently disabled while on duty.
Yonkers Firefighters, Local 628, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO filed a petition against Yonkers and the state Public Employment Relations Board last month. - PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: NY Journal News (LoHud.com)
Since 1998, the city’s fire department has had a tactical paramedic team that assists the Summit County sheriff’s SWAT team whenever called.
With a 2018 change in state law, the nine members on the team and Fire Chief Jeff Funai are hoping that next month City Council will OK the paramedics to be armed during such calls. - PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Akron Beacon Journal
Ron Howard knew Paradise, the northern California town devastated by the most destructive wildfire in California history.
His mother-in-law had lived there and he had visited the town. He had some understanding of its people. Ten days after what became known as the Camp Fire swept through Paradise, killing 85 people and destroying roughly 19,000 buildings, Howard went to see it. - PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland
Huntington is now a mentor site for law enforcement officers and first responders from across the United States who are looking to launch or expand drug diversion programs like those already in place in Cabell County, including the Quick Response Team.
“There will be people coming from all across the country, actually coming here to go out with the team and see what we’re doing firsthand,” said Connie Priddy, program coordinator for the Huntington QRT. - PUB DATE: 1/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: West Virginia MetroNews
VIDEOS: Broken windows, busted garage doors, and plumes of smoke could be seen from a northwest Houston neighborhood rattled by a large building explosion.
According to area residents, the explosion happened around 4:20 a.m. Friday at Watson Valve Services, which is about half a mile away from their homes on Rockcrest road and Stanford Court. - PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Click2Houston
An official with the Detroit Fire Department said 13 firefighters are facing department charges for a photo that surfaced on New Year's Day that featured them posing in front of a burning house in Detroit.
The Detroit Fire Department official was not authorized to go on the record about the 13 firefighters but told FOX 2 they are charged with exhibiting ignorance of the rules or orders. - PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WJBK-TV FOX 2 Detroit
The Cleveland Fire Department is taking steps to better protect your neighborhood while possibly saving you money, improving how it responds to suspicious fires.
"It's very unusual for somebody to have more than one fire in their life," said Chief Chris Posante, Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit.
However, in Cleveland, serial arsonists are keeping the city’s recently revamped investigation unit busy. - PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WEWS-TV ABC 5 Cleveland
Mayor Bill de Blasio will meet with health officials on Friday to discuss the city’s response to any potential cases of the deadly coronavirus, which has shut down parts of China and led to fears of an epidemic.
The mayor will meet with members from the Department of Health, NYC Emergency Management, the FDNY and the NYPD on Friday morning to talk about how the city will respond if the virus makes its way to the city. - PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WINS 1010 AM
Just think that over a hundred years ago there was no cellphones, no 911 emergency system, no fire department as we know it today! If your home caught on fire, you had to rely on whoever happened to be nearby to help you extinguish the fire, then hopefully you were within reach of a pump, or a water resource. - PUB DATE: 1/24/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Record-Courier
Three American firefighters died in a water tanker plane crash Thursday while battling wildfires in Australia, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed.
Rural Fire Service officials said they had located the plane, a C-130 Hercules, that crashed in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales state. - PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FOX News
VIDEO: A group of firefighters have been forced out of their station due to health concerns.
According to the president of the Dearborn Firefighters Union, fire station five is a moldy mess.
Instead of sleeping overnight and waking up if there's a call— firefighters have been staying in trucks.
They usually stay at fire station five in Dearborn, but 7 Action News has been told what started as a flooding problem led to mold. - PUB DATE: 1/23/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WXYZ-TV ABC 7 Detroit
